AP File PhotoFormer Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein responds to questions after he was introduced as the new president for baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs during a news conference.

The speculation has been confirmed -- Detroit has, indeed, engaged in talks with the Chicago Cubs about right-hander Matt Garza.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer confirmed to reporters late Tuesday that the club has had discussions with the Tigers about Garza, but said the team's current asking price hasn’t been met.

“We’ve had discussions,” Hoyer told MLB Network Radio. “Some teams have had interest, but we haven’t had the level you need to so far.”

Former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden suggested the Tigers’ top two prospects, right-hander Jacob Turner and third baseman Nick Castellanos, would need to be included for a deal to transpire.

Hoyer said he views Garza as a No. 2 starting pitcher and multiple reports indicate the Cubs are seeking a package similar to the deal the A’s received from the Nationals in exchange for Gio Gonzalez.

“Matt Garza is a front-end-rotation guy,” Hoyer told MLB Network Radio. “He’s the kind of guy that we may well choose to build around.”

Garza, who made $5.95 million last season while posting a 3.32 ERA and a career-high 197 strikeouts over 198 innings, is under team control through 2013.

“Length of the control of a player is important, but like I said before, the idea of keeping a guy like Garza around for a long time is something that is appealing as well,” Hoyer said.

The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Marlins are among the other clubs who have reportedly expressed interest in the 28-year-old.

Hoyer would not comment specifically on the rumors, but denied speculation that the signing of free-agent lefty Paul Maholm was a precursor to a Garza trade. On Tuesday, Maholm agreed to a one-year, $4.75 million deal, which includes a club option for $6.5 million with a $500,000 buyout clause.

“To say you have too many starting pitchers is like saying you have too much money -- it doesn’t exist,” Hoyer told MLB Network Radio. “Because we have six starters doesn’t mean we’re going to pare down to five by any means.”

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said last week -- without directly identifying Garza or Turner -- that the club has received calls from clubs inquiring about certain players.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that speculation over a Garza deal has been overblown.

“I can truly say more has happened in the media with this than has happened in reality,” Epstein told the Tribune. “It has not been an every-day (thing). There’s no attempt to shop him every day.”

Epstein’s statement echoes recent comments made by Dombrowski, who told The Detroit News on Tuesday morning that nothing has changed since last week when he denied reports suggesting the club was actively shopping Turner in return for starting pitching.

“We are not looking to trade Jacob Turner," Dombrowski told The News last week. "We love the guy. But I have received calls from clubs wondering if we would be interested in certain players because they have interest in our players.”

Dombrowski, who was reached by phone last week, said he has -- and will continue to -- field phone calls from other clubs, but hasn’t reached out to a team about a starting pitcher since inquiring about Gonzalez at the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

My take? To say Garza being traded to Detroit is a long shot is an understatement. It's not going to happen. Dombrowski will continue to field calls from Esptein, but it appears highly unlikely the asking price will come down.

Epstein and Hoyer view Garza as a No. 2 starter and aren't willing to deal the righty for anything less than two or three top prospects. Unless the Tigers are willing to part with Turner and Castellanos (which they're not), it appears Garza will remain in Chicago or be dealt to another club willing to mortgage its farm.